Participation of the EU in research and development programmes undertaken by several Member States based on Article 185 of the TFEU

Article 185 of the Treaty for the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) gives the EU the possibility to participate financially in multiannual research programmes proposed by several Member States including countries associated to the EU's framework programmes for R&I. This Staff Working Document (SWD) builds mainly on the main findings from seven individual evaluations and the results of public stakeholder consultations. It is focused on the overarching issues that concern all initiatives. The evaluation of Article 185 initiatives shows that individual initiatives are all well on track to achieve their objectives. Article 185 initiatives have been have been successful in creating long-term R&I partnerships and networks between research funders and governments, contributing to the European Research Area (ERA). They mobilise significant investment in transnational research projects in important policy areas, both globally and/or regionally. There is substantive evidence that participation in Article 185 initiatives will not replace national programmes but is used to strengthen the transnational dimension of national R&I systems in general. While all initiatives demonstrate good achievements in scientific and managerial integration, only few show evidence of strong financial integration.